Nasal rinser and outlet portion therefor

ABSTRACT

An outlet portion ( 1 ) for nasal rinsers which is characterized in that it comprises an outlet end ( 2 ), a connection end ( 3 ) and a nozzle shaped channel ( 4 ), showing a restriction ( 5 ) and an expanded outlet ( 6 ), in between.

[0001] The present invention relates to a nasal rinser and an outletportion for a nasal rinser.

[0002] Rinsing of the nose alleviate and reduce troubles with allergies,infections and troubles after nose surgery since the rinsing flushesaway allergens (allergy-forming substance), microbes (virus, bacteria),bi-products of the body (pus, mucus) and dust and soot particles. Theinflammatory swelling will be reduced and after nose surgery scabs willbe loosened up, whereby the healing process will be accelerated. Rinsingof the nose with salt water is a well tried method and has beenrecommended by doctors for at least a hundred years.

[0003] The known nasal rinsers on the market are a potter container formultiple use, which is expensive, ungain and has a potter outlet, andtwo disposable variants which are prefilled with salt water and waterfrom the Atlantic, respectively, which of course become very expensiveto use on regular basis and whose outlet do not function satisfactoryand therefore neither their ability to fill up the nose and the factthat they can only be used with the salt water that is prefilled in thenasal rinser.

[0004] A first object of the present invention is to provide an outletportion for a nasal rinser that quickly, comfortably and in a wellfunctioning way may fill the nasal cavity with liquid.

[0005] A second object of the present invention is to provide aninexpensive, simple and well functioning nasal rinser for multiple use.

[0006] The first object is met by means of an outlet portion for a nasalrinser, which is characterised in that it comprises an outlet end, aconnection end and nozzle-shaped channel between these ends which showsa constriction and an expanded outlet. The outlet portion has theadvantage that the liquid which is pressed in through the channel willleave the channel under turbulent flow, whereby the liquid quickly fillsout the nasal cavity at the same time as a thin jet is avoided thatsprays directly on the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, which feelsunpleasant.

[0007] The outlet portion preferably shows a circumference increasedportion, for example a droplet or balloon shaped portion, at the outletend so that the outlet portion seals against the edges of the nostrilirrespective of the size of the nostril, which has the advantage thatthe liquid will not leak out the wrong way and that the shape of theoutlet portion will help in opening up the nostril arch, which is themost narrow portion of the nostril.

[0008] Preferably, the outlet portion is made of a flexible materialwhich is experienced as soft and comfortable against the nose, such assilicone rubber.

[0009] The shape of the channel at the connection end of the outletportion is preferably adapted to the connection means of the nasalrinser, for example conical with the larges diameter at the end so thatthe outlet portion fits to a syringe having a conical tip.

[0010] The second object is met by means of a nasal rinser which ischaracterised in that it comprises an outlet portion of the presentinvention and a syringe or a compressible balloon for rinsing liquid,whereby the outlet portion is provided at the tip of the syringe or theoutlet opening of the balloon, which is provided with connection means.A nasal rinser according to any one of the two variants is simple andinexpensive to manufacture and easy to use, especially the syringevariant where it is easy to suck in the rinsing liquid into the syringebefore the nasal rinsing, and easy to keep clean, especially the syringevariant.

[0011] Of course, the outlet portion may be connected to any other typeof nasal rinser means.

[0012] The rinsing liquid may for example be salt water, an oil emulsionor salt water provided with a medicine.

[0013] The present invention will now be described by exemplifyingembodiments of the present invention together with appended drawings, inwhich:

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an outlet portion according tothe present invention of a nasal rinser.

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a nasal rinser of syringetype according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a nasal rinser ofballoon type according to the present invention.

[0017] In FIG. 1 a outlet portion 1 is shown, which comprises an outletend 2 and a connection end 3. Between these ends 2, 3 a channel 4 isarranged. The channel 4 is nozzle shaped and shows a restriction 5 inthe cross section and an expanded outlet 6. At the connection end 3 thechannel 4 has a shape which is adapted to the type of connection of thenasal rinser at which the outlet portion shall be arranged. In the showncase the channel 4 is conically shaped with the largest diameter in theconnection end to fot to a syringe with a conically tapering tip, forexample a monoject syringe.

[0018] The outlet portion 1 has an outer shape that reminds of a dollywhere the connection end 3 is the stick and the outlet end 2 is thelolly head. The outlet end 2 shows a circumference enlargement portion12 which preferably is balloon or droplet shaped, whereby the outerdiameter of the outlet portion increases from the outlet end 2 adistance inwards from this whereafter the outer diameter decreases. Thisresults in the fact that the outlet portion 1 may be put into thenostril a short distance at the same time as the increasing diameterresults in that the opening of the nostril fully is filled up by theoutlet portion 1 so that it seals between the outlet portion 1 and thenostril. This design also results in that the outlet portion 1 suits alldifferent sizes of nostrils.

[0019] Preferably the outlet portion 1 is made of a silicone rubber.

[0020] When rinsing liquid is pressed into the outlet portion 1 from forexample a syringe into the channel 4 the pressure will increase when theliquid passs the restriction 5 and will thereafter increase in velocitywhen the liquid reaches in the expanded outlet, whereby the flow willbecome turbulent.

[0021] In FIG. 2 a nasal rinser 7 according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. It comprises an outlet portion 1 provided atthe tip 8 of a syringe 9, in the shown case a monoject syringe with aconically shaped tip 8.

[0022] In FIG. 3 a nasal rinser according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. It comprises an outlet portion 1 provided ata hollow tip 10 at a balloon shaped body 11. The balloon shaped body 11,is compressible to be able to press out liquid comprised within theballoon shaped body 11 through the hollow tip 10 and out through theoutlet portion.

[0023] At use lukewarm rinsing liquid is drawn into the syringe 9 or theballoon 11 through negative pressure, whereby it is pressed out throughthe outlet portion 1 and further into the nose.

1. An outlet portion (1) for a nasal rinser which is characterised in that it comprises an outlet end (2), a connection end (3) and a nozzle shaped channel (4) between these ends that shows a restriction section (5) and an expanded outlet section (6).
 2. An outlet portion according to claim 1, which shows an enlarged circumference portion (12) at the outlet end (2) for sealing at use between the outlet portion (1) and the users nostril.
 3. An outlet portion according to claim 2, wherein the enlarged circumference portion (12) is droplet or balloon shaped.
 4. An outlet portion according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the channel (4) is conically shaped at the connection end (3) and has a largest diameter at the connection end (3).
 5. An outlet portion according to anyone of the previous claims, which is made of a flexible material.
 6. A nasal rinser, characterised in that it comprises an outlet portion (1) according to anyone of the claims 1-5 and a receptacle for rinsing liquid connected to the outlet portion (1), whereby the receptacle is maneuverable for emptying the rinsing liquid out through the outlet portion (1).
 7. A nasal rinser according to claim 6, wherein the receptacle is provided with a piston for emptying of the rinsing liquid out through the outlet portion (1).
 8. A nasal rinser according to claim 6, wherein the receptacle is a flexible, balloon shaped body, which is compressible for emptying of the rinsing liquid out through the outlet portion (1). 